Apparatus for distributing molten slag in blast-furnaces.



No. 789,133. I PATENTED MAY 9, 1905.

R. BAGGALEY & 0. M. ALLEN. APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING MOLTEN SLAG IN BLAST FURNACES.

APPLICATION FILED MAE. 31,1904.

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UNITED STATES Patented May 9, 1905.

PATENT OFFIC.

RALPH BAGGALEY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, AND CHARLES M. ALLEN, OF LOLO, MONTANA; SAID ALLEN ASSIGNOR TO SAID BAGGALEY.

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING MOLTEN SLAG IN BLAST-FURNACES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 789,133, dated May 9, 1905.

Application filed March 31, 1904. Serial No. 200,866-

To (0 whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, RALPH BAGGALEY, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, and CHARLES IVLALLEN, of L010, in the county of Missoula and State of Montana, have invented an Apparatus for Distributing Molten Slag in Blast-Furnaces, of which the followingisadescription. reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the apparatus, partly in longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is an end elevation, partly in cross-section; and Fig. 3 is a vertical section showing a modification.

Our invention relates to an apparatus especially adapted to the practice of the method described in our pending patent application, Serial No. 199,027, filed March 19, 1904.

In the smelting of pyrite, pyrrhotite, or other sullid ores the instances are few where the ores are of sufficient purity and coarseness to smelt to good advantage without the use of at least a small percentage of carbonaceous fuel. The average sulfid ore as mined commercially contains silica so intimately incorporated with it that when the metallic sulfids melt by a process of liquation out of the silicious shell the furnace charge is apt to form scaffolds on the walls of the furnace and to produce at least some of the serious results that have caused the failure of all attempts that have been made heretofore to smelt such pyritic ores without some addition of extraneous fuel.

The slags that are produced in the converting of copper mattes are necessarily basic and are especially adapted to dissolve the accretions mentioned above. They also carry sufiicient copper to make it important to re-treat them for the recovery of their values, and it has been the custom at many works to pour them into the forehearth of a smelting-furnace or into a reverberatory-furnace for this purpose.

We have discovered that by pouring the corrosive converter-slags when molten into a blast-furnace that is engaged in smelting pyritic ores and by distributing the same around the walls of the furnace we can dissolve al troublesome accretions that have formed on the walls, and at the same time We thus furnish additional heat that is beneficial in keeping the furnace running continuously without coke and only with the heats produced by the oxidation of the metallic sullids contained in the charge.

Our invention is especially adapted to use the converter-slags produced in the method for which we have already made application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 198,593, filed March 17, 1904, wherein we first produce a low-grade matte from sulfid ores relatively low in silica and high in matte-making values, separate the slag therefrom, place the matte in a converter, blow air thlereinto, add silicious ores in small charges, and replenish the bath from time to time with fresh additions of such low-grade matte. We take the slag which is poured from the converter from time to time during the progress of that method and We pour it into the blast-furnace in which the sulfid ores are being smelted for the purpose of supplying the bath rich in fuel values, which constitutes one of the components of the converter charge. The passage through the blast-furnace cleans this slag, adds heat to the smelting-furnace, and prevents the formation of solid accretions on its walls. In pouring the converter-slags into the blastfurnace it is important that they should be distributed along the walls of the furnace rather than along its center line in order to dissolve and remove any accretions formed on the furnace-walls. It is also preferable that they be introduced at a different place and by means independent of the means for charging the ores. If it were attempted to charge such molten material with the ores or by the same means, the material would cool and cement the ores together and to the charging devices, and thus obstruct the work. Therefore instead of merely pouring the slag into the furnace at one place, as at the usual charging-orifice 1, and in a single stream we employ one or more tilting troughs 2, which in the form shown in the drawings are pivoted at their ends on trunnions 3, on which they can be turned over by the cylinders L or other suitable motors connected by racks 5 or other gearing with pinions 6 on the respective troughs, each trough preferably having its own cylinder or motor, so that it may be rocked independently of the other. The troughs when horizontal and in position to receive the slag preferably close the furnace-top, and we therefore provide a downtake-pipe 7 at the side for the outlet of the fu rnace-gases. When the molten converter-slag is to be poured into the furnace, it is preferably taken from the converter in a ladle 8 and poured from this ladle into either trough. By tipping the troughs in the direction of the walls the molten slag will be distributed uniformly along the walls and from end to end of the furnace. By tipping the troughs in the opposite direction the slag may be discharged in the middle. and by turning the troughs completely over in either direction the skull or solidified slag will be auto mat-ically dropped into the furnace without the present labor and expense connected with the disposition of skulls.

The apparatus is very simple and easy to operate, and it enables the molten slag to be distributed in the most efficient manner without trouble or expense.

An ad vantage of the apparatus constructed as shown in the drawings is that the troughs close the opening in the furnace-top when they are righted, and when the slag is being discharged the least possible area is exposed for the escape of fumes and smoke. It will be noted, too, that any gases that may thus escape do so above the level on which employees are required to work. Should such escaping gases, however, be found objectionable, asuitable canopy 9, equal in length with the troughs, may be provided immediately above the furnace to conduct the gases up the stack and into the atmosphere.

If desired, the troughs 2 may be arranged transversely of the furnace, as shown in Fig. 3, or they may be set at a lateral opening instead of at the top. They may also be used fpr delivering matte to the furnace as well as s ag.

Within the scope of our invention as defined in the claims the apparatus may be modified in other ways, since What we claim is 1. A blast-furnace having an ore-charging opening and means located at a different part of the furnace for distributing a molten charge in the interior of the furnace; substantially as described.

2. A blast-furnacehaving an ore-charging opening and means located at a different level for distributing a molten charge in the interior of the furnace; substantially as described.

3. A blast-furnace having an ore-charging opening and means located in the interior of the furnace for distributing a molten charge upon the furnace contents, substantially as de scribed.

4. A blast-furnace having a trough pivotally mounted in the wall thereof for distributing a molten charge upon the furnace burden; substantially as described.

5. A blast-furnace having a tipping trough for distributing molten charge material, and mechanism for tipping the trough in either direction; substantially as described.

6. A blast-furnace having troughs adapted to distribute molten material, and mechanism for tipping the troughs independently; substantially as described.

7. Apparatus for feeding molten material to a blast-furnace, comprising a cast-metal vessel of substantially even thickness in cross-section throughout its length, and of trough shape, flaring from, the bottom to the top; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we havehereunto set our hands.

RALPH BAGGALEY. CHARLES M. ALLEN.

. Witnesses:

THoMAs W. BAKEWELL, J. H. REED. 

